Book Reviews

 

A PERFECT RED: 

Empire, Espionage, and the Quest for the Color of Desire by Amy Butler Greenfield

The language and symbolism of the color red, within the context of Western culture, are just two elements of this book in which Greenfield offers us a profile of cochineal red dye.

Review by Priscilla

CIRCE by Madeline Miller

Currently the Big Read Lakeshore for 2022, CIRCE, is a retelling of the Greek myth of Circe from her viewpoint.  She was a Greek goddess and witch who befriended Odysseus on his journeys, although she famously turned his crew into pigs for awhile.   She was also, like his wife Penelope, a weaver and natural dyer and there are many references to these fiber arts in this entertaining story.

Review by Priscilla

 THE FABRIC OF CIVILIZATION by Virginia Postrel
Even if you thought that you knew a lot about textiles, this well researched and very readable book will tell you how “textiles have truly changed the world” leading to innovations in almost every part of civilization - business, technology, politics, culture, science, medicine and more.  Surprising information in every chapter.  Starting with cave men figuring out how to make string to present day futuristic textiles, the author guides you through world history.  No wonder we find textiles so fascinating. 

Review by Priscilla 

The Dressmakers of Auschwitz: The True Story of the Women Who Sewed to Survive by Lucy Adlington.  Drawing on a vast array of sources, including interviews with the last surviving seamstress, this powerful book tells the story of the brave women who used their sewing skills to survive the Holocaust, exposing the greed, cruelty and hypocrisy of the Third Reich.  At the height of the Holocaust, young inmates of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp-- mainly Jewish women and girls-- were selected to design, cut, and sew beautiful fashions in a dedicated salon for elite Nazi women. Called the Upper Tailoring Studio, it was established by the camp commandant's wife and patronized by the wives of SS guards and officers. Adlington follows the fates of these women. While exposing the greed, cruelty, and hypocrisy of the Third Reich, she shows how the women of the Studio played their part in camp resistance, providing a fresh look at a little-known chapter of history.

Before Colors:  Where Pigments and Dyes Come From by Annette Bay Pimentel; Discover how color is harnessed from nature in this survey of dyes and pigments from around the world. Especially great for children to learn about nature and the world of dyes. Available through Kent District Library.